GOLDEN, Colo. – It was another reverse sweep for the Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team on Friday night as they kicked off Homecoming Weekend with a thrilling, five-set win against Westminster at Lockridge Arena.
 
As expected in a five-set match, the box score was stuffed with big numbers. Hannah Kinnison's 19-kill, 18-dig double-double rose to the top of the list. Presley Powell made it a pair of Oredigger double-doubles by dishing out 39 assists and notching 10 digs. She had four total blocks and two kills on .667 hitting as well. Twenty five digs off the arms of Jada Price along with two aces were impressive too. Other notables included 25 combined kills from Kate Kudlac and Taylor Helms, and 14 digs courtesy of Olivia Murillo. Jenna McLaughlin put the icing on the cake after knocking down six total blocks.
 
Mines (5-6, 2-1 RMAC) handed Westminster (6-4, 2-1 RMAC) its first conference loss of 2024. There was redemption in the victory as well after the Orediggers lost to the Griffins for the first time ever last season. Mines faced deficits in nearly every significant statistical category, but extended rallies and posted an 86-77 advantage in digs. That difference and grit were what made up the difference against one of the best serving teams in the nation. Westminster stacked up seven service aces and held the Orediggers under .200 on the attack. But aggressive service also resulted in 14 service errors. Overall, the victory gives Mines the second-best record in the RMAC and ties the Orediggers for fourth in the conference standings.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
During the first two sets of the match, Mines was seemingly shrouded in a homecoming haze. The frames were truly forgettable for Oredigger nation as Westminster cruised to wins of 25-16 and 25-13. Digs were the lone highlight in the box score for the home team with Price putting up 11 and Kinnison touting eight, but the contest seemed all but over. However, a 27-25, extra-points win for the Orediggers in the third frame changed everything. Nine ties and four lead changes culminated with a service error and attack error by the Griffins which allowed Mines back into the match.
 
Nothing came easy for the Orediggers after they avoided the sweep, but slowly and surely Mines ground down its guests. Assisted blocks by McLaughlin and Powell sandwiched a Kudlac late in the fourth game. Those three points pushed the home team to a 25-21 win and forced the ultimate set. Westminster hung tough through 14 points in the fifth, tying the score at 7-7 before a service error by the Griffins forced the teams to switch benches. After that, Murillo served five straight points and Mines collected four thanks to two Kinnison kills, a Murillo ace, and an assisted block off the hands of McLaughlin and Kinnison. The Orediggers steadied themselves with a timeout at 13-10. Then, two straight WU errors gave Mines a 15-10 win and victory in the match.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is 11-1 in the all-time series with Westminster.
- The Orediggers have never lost to the Griffins in Golden.
- Friday was just the second-ever, five-set affair between Mines and WU.
- The Orediggers are now 2-1 in five-set matches in 2024.
- Kinnison has produced six double-doubles during her time at Mines.
- Powell's double-double was the eighth of her collegiate career.
- Kudlac matched her career high in kills on Friday night, notching 13 against the Griffins.
- McLaughlin and Helms had single-match bests with four digs apiece.
- Murillo's 14 digs were also a collegiate best for the true freshman.
- Powell put up her own career high by tallying four blocks.
- Price's 25 digs broke her single-match record as well.
- Westminster's middle blocker Hailey Killett had 13 kills on 24 attempts on Friday without committing an error to hit .542 for the match.
- Head Coach Jamie Magalei is now 359-128 in her 17th season at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Orediggers host #18 Colorado Mesa on Saturday night at 5 p.m. inside Lockridge Arena. Free live video on the RMAC Network and live statistics of both matches will be available at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines volleyball on "X" (formerly Twitter) at @minesvolleyball and on Instagram at @mines.volleyball. They can also follow all of Mines Athletics year around on Facebook, "X", and Instagram at @MinesAthletics.